Lighting fixture



M. LIBERMAN LIGHTING FIXTURE Oct. 3, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 10, 1958 R O T N E v m Ma TON 4 IBFFMH/V ATTO M. LIBERMAN LIGHTING FIXTURE Oct. 3, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fl Led Sept. 10, 1958 llll INVENTOR Mara/v Z/BE/FM/VA/ United States Patent 3,003,055 LIGHTING FIXTURE Milton Liberman, 65 Sewane Road, East Rockaway, N.Y. Filed Sept. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 760,104 4 Claims. (Cl. 240-9) This invention relates to lighting fixtures and more particularly to a novel and improved lighting fixture and support therefor that may form part or all of a false ceiling and afford means for quickly and easily positioning lighting fixtures and changing lighting fixtures and lighting configurations without requiring expensive ceiling alterations and redecoration.

The invention has as one of its advantages the provision of a novel and improved lighting fixture having provision for carrying lighting elements in any desired configuration and ceiling elements to fill the areas between such elements. This is attained through an improved supporting structure which provides support for both the lighting elements, including incandescent and fluorescent, and ceiling panels together with an improved arrangement of electric plugs to facilitate the interchange of the lighting elements and modification of their con figuration. Moreover, the lighting fixture in accordance with the invention may be in the form of a ceiling supported device having an area smaller than the ceiling, or a number of elements may be arranged in contiguous relationship to cover an entire ceiling.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved lighting fixture embodying a lighting element supporting grid surrounded by energized structural members for supporting the grid and which is characterized by its economy, simplicity and its flexibility in the attainment of any desired lighting arrangement.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved support for lighting devices that can be used individually or in groups, with each support aifording means for holding lighting devices in any desired configuration and facilitating ready alteration of the lighting configuration to obtain various lighting and decorative effects without altering or modifying the supporting element.

A further object of the invention resides in a novel and improved lighting fixture.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention wil become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings forming part of this invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the lighting fixture in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded fragmentary section of the structure shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross section view of FIGURE 1 taken along the line 3-3 thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 showing a modified lighting element;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the supporting means for the lighting element shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a ceiling element for utilization with the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view illustrating the utilization of groups of units such as that shown in FIGURE '1 to cover an entire ceiling.

The lighting fixture or lighting structure in accordance with the invention affords novel and improved means for arranging room lighting in such a manner that the position of the lighting means, as well as the lights themselves, may be readily changed without the need for special tools or experienced personnel. By reason of the improved construction and arrangement of elements, the lighting configuration can be quickly and easily altered to meet changing needs. Furthermore, because of the inherent characteristics of this invention, it may be used in multiple to cover an entire ceiling and thus avoid the normal expense of putting in a false or dropped ceiling in order to obtain the advantage of socalled recessed lighting. The invention is also arranged to utilize ceiling blocks in the spaces between fixtures so that in addition to facilitating ready change of the lighting equipment, the ceiling color, design and texture can be modified at the same time.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 10 denotes a lighting unit in accordance with the invention. This unit broadly comprises a peripheral frame member Ill secured to the ceiling by suitable stems or ceiling supports 12. Within the frame 11 is a grating comprising a pair of longitudinal members 13 and five transverse members 14. These members are interlocked and are supported at their ends by the frame 11. Each of the grating members 13 and 14 includes a lower flanged portion 13 and 14, respectively, for supporting fixtures or ceiling elements, as the case may be. In the instant illustration spherical fixtures 15 are illustrated for directing light on specific objects within the room or closure in which the fixtures are used. The spherical fixtures or light sources are supported by metal plates 16 having openings therein slightly less than the maximum diameter of the fixture and are arranged to fit Within a single square of the grating and be supported by the lower flanges l3 and 14'. Further in accordance with the invention, the lighting unit as shown in FIGURE 1 also includes suitable electric outlets carried by the frame 10 for energizing the various lighting elements 15 and the wiring for these outlets is readily accessible by removing the peripheral panel members 17' that close the Wireway in the frame and provide a finished edge for the lighting unit 10.

The construction of the frame 11, grating and peripheral panels 17 is shown in FIGURE 2. The frame 11, which is preferably made of a relatively heavy cell of supporting material, as, for instance, aluminum, steel or the like, is generally in the form of a U-shaped member with the open section of the U facing outwardly,

More specifically, the channel is formed of a lower, L-shaped member having a horizontally disposed leg 18 and a short, upwardly extending leg 19. A second L-shaped member includes a vertical leg 20 secured to the leg 18 of the lower L-shaped member at a point spaced from the inner edge to leave a horizontal flange 21. The upper leg 22 of the second L-shaped member is in a substantially horizontal plane and it carries along its outer edge a vertically disposed strip 23 which extends both above and below the edge of the leg 22. This arrangement forms a closed member or channel having a narrow opening 24. The leg 22 of the upper L-shaped member includes a plurality of openings for the reception of electric outlets 25 which may be connected one to the other within the channel. Suitable knock-out plugs 26 are provided for the attachment of an appropriate cable to supply electric energy to the outlet 25. In addition, the leg 22 of the upper L-shaped member further includes a number of openings 27 for the attachment of the frame to the ceiling or other supporting means.

The opening in the frame 10 is closed by peripheral plates 17. Each of the plates 17 includes a longitudinal bracket 28 on its inner surface having a portion 28 in spaced parallel relationship to the plate 17. The portion 28' engages the upwardly extending portion of the frame part 23 to hold the plate 17 in place. The plates 17 are then secured in position by passing appropriate fastening means through holes 29 and 30 to prevent accidental disengagement of these elements.

The grating elements 13 and 14 are each formed essentially of inverted T-shaped sections and are interlocked to form a rigid self-sustaining structure. More specifically, the longitudinal members include a series of spaced slots 31 extending upwardly through the lower transverse member 32 which forms flanges extending from each side of the vertical portion 33. The slot 31 preferably extends about mid-way of the height of the member 33 and has a width adapted to receive the transverse element 14. The transverse members 14 are constructed in a similar manner to the longitudinal members \13 in that they have a vertically disposed plate 34 and a lower, horizontal member 35 forming a flange extending from each side of the plate 34. The members 14 are each provided with a plurality of vertically disposed slots 36 having a width equal to the thickness of the members 13 and extending approximately half-way across the member 14. The upper edge of the plate 34 of the member 14 has notches 37 on each side of each of the slots 36 and the member 35 is cut away as indicated at 38 to receive the flange 32 of the cooperating member 13.

When the members 13 and 14 are engaged as shown in the upper portion of FIGURE 2, the flanged portions 35 and 32 are in a common plane and the members 13 are held in engagement with the members 14 by defleeting the material portions between notches 37 and the slot 36 inwardly one toward the other and over the top of the cooperating portions of the member 13 to lock the two together. The outer ends of the members 13 and 1-4 are undercut as indicated at 39 and 40 to engage the flanges 21 of the frame and bring the lower surface of the flanged elements 32 and 35 into substantially the same plane as the lower surface of the flange 21. This will be observed more clearly in FIGURES 3 and 4 which show the grating in position in the frame 11. FIGURE 3 also shows the enclosure plates 17'.

Inasmuch as the lighting structure in accordance with the invention is particularly useful for supporting spotlights and other similar elements, a tiltable spot-light has been illustrated in FIGURE 3 and denoted by the numeral 15. These spot-lights or flood lights are provided with a generally spherical housing part 42 and a socket housing 43 extending from the upper side thereof for receipt of an appropriate lamp 44. The bottom of the light housing 42 is provided with an appropriate grating, as shown in FIGURE 1 for the purpose of confining the light to a predetermined beam configuration.

The lamp 15 is supported by a generally square plate 16, illustrated more clearly in FIGURE 5. This plate has a size commensurate with the openings in the grating formed by the members 13 and 14 and is supported by the flanges 32 and 35. In order to afford adequate strength to the member 16, it is provided with peripheral strengthening flanges 45 and the bottom portion 4-6 has an opening 47 to receive the lamp 15 as illustrated in FIGURE 3. Energy for the lamp 15 is provided by a flexible cord 47 having a plug 48 for insertion into an outlet 25 as previously described.

With the foregoing arrangement the lamp can be positioned in any of the several openings provided by the grating and can be plugged into the nearest outlet 25 for supplying electrical energy. As indicated above, any number of lighting elements may be supported within the openings provided by the grating. After the desired lighting has been arranged and adjusted, the intervening openings of the grating may be closed by 4 ceiling blocks 49 as illustrated in FIGURE 6. These blocks may be of any desired material such as cellotex, ceramic, metal or the like, in accordance with the decorative effects that are to be achieved.

While the invention, as illustrated in FIGURE 1 may be arranged for use as an individual unit, it may also be utilized in groups to cover an entire ceiling and this is illustrated in FIGURE 7, which shows a corner of a room in perspective with a number of units 10 supported from the ceiling in contiguous relationship. In cases where the dimensions of the unit 10 are such that a predetermined number of such units fail to completely cover the ceiling, the space between the units and the walls may be closed by usual padding procedures. When a number of units 10 are used in groups to cover an entire ceiling, the side plates 17 are preferably omitted and appropriate clips or clamps may engage the flanges 23 of adjoining fixtures to hold them together. Since electrical codes generally require that all wiring be enclosed in metal conduits, it is desirable as illustrated in FIGURE 4 to provide an appropriate metal shield 50 adjoining the wall 51 to afford a metal enclosure for the frame elements 11 which abut the wall 51.

In order to illustrate the versatility of the invention, FIGURE 4 shows a fixed lighting source 52 supported in one of the grating openings. This lighting source 52 includes a rectangular frame element 53 which engages the flanges 32, 35 and 21 as the case may be, to support the fixture in the grating opening. Unused openings are closed by appropriate ceiling blocks 49 as previously described.

Hanging fixtures such as the fixture 54 of FIGURE 7 may also be employed, in which case the fixture would be supported by a rectangular plate 55 having centrally disposed means for attachment of the stem of the fixture 54. Fluorescent lights may also be utilized alone or in combination with other types of light sources. This is illustrated in FIGURE 7 wherein a number of the openings in the grating have been combined into a single elongated opening to receive and support an elongated fluorescent light fixture 56.

While only certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is apparent that modifications, alterations and changes may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit thereof as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A lighting fixture comprising a grating having interlocked sets of lateral and longitudinal members forming a plurality of rectangular openings, a frame member surrounding said grating and having a wireway therein, a plurality of electric outlets in said frame member and connected to current carrying wires in said wireway, and flanges on said members to form an inwardly extending ledge about one edge of each of said openings to support individual lighting elements therein with the lighting elements resting on said flanges.

2. A lighting fixture according to claim 1 wherein said frame is of U-shaped configuration with the legs thereof extending outwardly and said fixture further includes removable plates closing said frame to form a closed vvireway and extending beyond at least one of said legs.

3. A lighting fixture according to claim 1 including lighting units removably disposed in at least certain of said openings and closure members in other of said openings, said lighting units including electrical cables including plugs inserted in said outlets.

4. A lighting fixture comprising a grating having interlocked sets of relatively wide longitudinal and transverse strips forming a plurality of rectangular openings having a depth corresponding to the width of said strips, a peripheral, relatively rigid and substantially unitary frame member supporting said grating in a substantially horizontal position, flanges on the bottom edges of said strips and frame member to form inwardly extending said units inserted in said outlets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Dunbar Nov. 16, 1943 6 Guth Oct. 23, 1951 Goebel Jan. 13, 1953 Runge et al. Oct. 6, 1953 Dunne et a1 Apr. 27, 1954 Kruger Feb. 7, 1956 Sprankle Dec. 4, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Australia Jan. 11, 1956 

